Axle-boxes



D. MCNICOLL AXLE-BOXES Feb. 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 rFil-ed June 14, 1955 kw n n. A M4N .mctw .Ml MAM V V. @B

D. MGNICOLL Feb. 24,` 195,9

AXLE-'BOXES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1955 dn .k

Inventor Da l/c/ Nc /V"ca// BYOLML/n;

Attorney5 Feb.24, 1959 v D. MGNICOLL 2,875,004

` AxLE-BOXES Filed June 14, 1955 4 sheetswsheet s Inventor Attorneys Feb. 24, 1959 D. MGNlcoLl. 2,875,004 v AXLE-BOXE'S Filed. June 14, 1955 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n Uenlor Bydmumlk ttorney;

United States Patent Omlce AXLE-BOXES David McNicoll, Birmingham, England, assignorto British Tmken Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Application June 14, 1955, Serial No. 515,451

Claims priority, application Great Britain December 20, 1954 4 Claims. (Cl. 308-180) This invention relates to railway and like vehicle axleboxes of the kind comprising two axially-separable units, onefunit being a self-contained inner bearing unit consi`s`ting of anti-friction bearings contained within a hous- Ming, and the other unit consisting of an outer box body or casing carrying at the top a spring-supporting seat for accommodating the vehicle spring and provided at opposite sides with horn guides for slidable engagement with the horn plates or horn blocks of the vehicle frame.A Such a construction permits of the respective component units being made of a material most suited to their individual functions.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of axle-box, of the kind referred to, in which there is -no need of separate fixing means, such as bolts or the like, for holding the two units together against relative axial displacement; which permits of relatively quick and easy separation of the units; and which facilitates interchange or replacement of parts of the axle-box. A further object is to reduce the overall degree of essential machining accuracy for the entire axle-box.

According to the invention, an axle-box of the kind referred to, comprises inner and outer units, means for preventing or restricting relative rotation between the said units, and means for preventing or restricting relative axial displacement of the units, the latter means consisting of spaced flanges or projections situated at both ends of the upper parts of the said units, each ange or projection being carried on one of the units so as to overlap an end of the other unit; the outer unit normally resting directly upon the inner unit and the form of the lower portion of the outer unit being such as to permit of a relative vertical movement of the units sufficient to cause each of the `said flanges or projections on one unit to `move clear of the opposed end of the -other unit, so that the units can be separated by a relative axial movement.

The flanges or projections `may be outwardly-directed flanges on the ends of the bearing housing, so as to cooperate with the ends of the outer unit; or they may be inwardly-directed flanges or projections on the ends of the outer unit, so as to co-operate with the ends of the inner bearing unit.

The outer unit may completely surround the inner unit, with sufficient clearance between its lower part and the bottom of the inner unit to permit` of the required relative vertical displacement for clearing the flanges from their co-operating part; or the said outer unit may be of inverted U form, open at the bottom, to permit of the said relative displacement.

In the accompanying drawings showing axle-boxes constructed in accordance with the present invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through an axle-box, with the axle shown in elevation, in accordance .with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line II--IL Figure 1.

4 2,815,004 Patented Feb. 24, 1959` Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified construction of axle-box.

Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end View of an axle-box of another modied construction, and with the end cover plate removed.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section, showing a further m-odication.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of another modified form of axle-box.

Figure 8 is a section on line VIll--VIIL Figure 7.

Referring to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, a twounit axle-box consists of an inner bearing unit 1 and a separate outer unit surrounding and enclosing the inner unit.

The 4outer unit consists of an open-ended body or casing 2, of substantially octagonal cross-section interiorly, with flat horizontal top and bottom interior faces 4, 5, and provided at opposite sideswith vertical horn guides 6, 6, of channel section formed integrally with the side walls of the body 2 and extending for substantially the full height of the latter. On the top of the body unit 2 is an upwardly projecting seat 7, of conventional form, for reception of the pad of the vehicle suspension spring. The top interior face 4 may, as shown, have applied to it a wear pad or plate 3.

The inner bearing unit 1 of the axle-box consists of a housing 8 in the form of a sleeve or barrel of an axial length greater than the axial length of the outer body unit 2 and containing two tapered roller bearings 9, 10, o-ne at each end, the larger ends of the rollers 11 of each bearing being directed outwardly. The rollers 11 of each bearing run between outer and inner race rings 12, 13, having conical race surfaces .14, 15. The outer race rings 12 are received within cylindrical annular recesses 16 in the respective outer ends of the housing 8 with their inner ends abutting shoulders formed by an inwardly-directed annular spacing rib 17 extending around the interior of the housing, at the middle thereof. The inner race rings 13 of each bearing 9, 10, are fitted upon the axle 18, and a spacing or distance ring 19, also surrounding the axle, is located between said inner race rings.` A retaining plate 20 attached to the end of the axle 18 by`screws 21 overlaps the inner race ring 13 of the outermost bearing 9 to hold both the bearings 9 and 10 on the axle 18, with the inner race ring 13 of the innermost bearing 10 abutting a closure ring 22 situated at the inner end of the axle-box and which is axially supported against a shoulder 23 on the axle. An end cover plate 24 may be sprung into an annular rebate 25 in the outer end of the housing 8.

The said housing sleeve or barrel 8 which encloses the bearings 9, 10, h as its exterior surface shaped at top and bottom to a truncated triangular form, to provide at top and bottom faces 29, 30, and oblique side faces 25, 25, adjacent the latter, said oblique faces being substantially parallel with the inner faces of the oblique portions 26, 26, of the octagonal body unit 2. In use, the flat interior face 4 of the upper portion of the body unit or the wear pad 3 thereon, rests on the flat top face 29 of the bearing housing 8, with the oblique upper side faces 25, 25, of the housing mating with or slightly spaced from the opposed oblique faces 26, 26, of the body unit. The interior depth of the body unit 2, however, is considerably greater than the exterior depth of the bearing unit 8, so that when, in use, the upper parts of the two units rest one upon the other, as above described, a considerable vertical clearance 27 is provided between the lower part of the bearing unit and the lower interior portion of the body unit, both as regards the opposed flat bottom faces 5 and 30 and the opposed oblique side faces.

y In order to prevent or restrict relative axial displace-` ment between the bearing and body units, the bearing housing 8 of the bearing unit 1 is provided at opposite ends of the ilat upper face 29 with upwardly-projecting flanges 28, 28, preferably extending across the full width of said face 29 so as to overlap, with suitable clearances, the respective ends 31, 32, of the body unit; said flanges 28, 28, being of a depth lessV than the bottom clearance 27 between the two units 1 and 2. The said two units can be separated and removed from one another by lifting the body unit l relatively to the bearing unit 2 until the flanges 28, 28, on the latter are clear of the body unit ends 31, 32, when the two units can be separated by a relative axial movement.

Similar flanges 28e, 28a, can be provided at the ends of the bottom flat face 30 of the bearing housing S, so that, if desired,l the bearing unit 2 can be inverted in position within the body unit 1, in order to bring the flanges 28a, 28a, which were previously inoperative at the bottom, into operative position at the top, for co-operation with the ends 31, 32, of the body unit as hereinbefore described.

In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, instead of the axial retaining flanges being on the bearing housing, inwardly-extending or depending flanges 33 are provided on the ends of the body unit 2 so as to ovelap the ends of the housing 8 of the bearing unit 1. Also, instead of the body unit 2 being of octagonal form in cross-section, it is, as shown in Figure 4, of substantially elliptical shape both interiorly and exteriorly, but with flat horizontal upper and lower ends 34, 35 opposed to the corresponding llat upper and lower faces 36, 37, of the bearingunit l. In this case, the sides 38, 3S, of the bearing housing 8. are of arcuate or curved form of smaller curvature than the interior side surfaces 39;,l 39, of the bodyv unit 2. The body unit 2 may have an interior form of any other non-circular shape than elliptical.

In a further modillcation shown in Figure 5, the interior 40 of the body unit 2 is of substantially elliptical contour, and the circular bearing housing 8 has end flanges 41 also of elliptical shape but of smaller overall dimensions than the interior 40 of the body, said flanges 41v providing, at the top, crescent-shaped end retaining parts 42 which, when the body unit Z-rests on the housing 8, overlap the ends of said body unit. In this case fore-and-aft rocking movement (that is, relative rotary movement) between the bearing and body units is prevented by providing on each end of the body unit, two angularly-spaced overhangingstop lugs 43 which engage the edge of the upper flange or retaining part 42 at each end of the housing. Alternatively the stop lugs 43 may engage end flanges of other suitable shape than crescent shape and which may have flat portions to co-operate with the lugs.

In a further modification shown in Figure 6, the general arrangement of a housing 8, containing the bearings 9 and 10 and provided with upwardly-projecting end flanges 28 which overlap with ends 31, 32, of a surrounding body unit 2, is similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to Figures l and 2, but the two rowsof tapered bearing rollers 11 are arranged with their large endsl inwards and run between coned race surfaces 14 on a single common inner race sleeve 44 and conical surfaces'15 of outer race rings 45 whose thicker outer ends 46 abut against llanged end closure rings 4'7, 48, attached to the ends of the bearing housing 8,

In another modillcation, shown in Figures 7 and 8, the housing of the inner bearing unit 1 consists of a sleeve 49 which also constitutes a common outerrace member of the bearings 9, and it), the interior surface of said sleeve #t9-havingV two relativelyl reversed conical racelsurfaces 50, 50, which form the outer tracks for the tapered. rollersi 11. The/outer periphery S1 of the said sleeve 49 is of cylindrical form. The body unit 52.is.of inverted U -shape inicross-section (Figure 8), itslower end being entirely open and the inner surface of its upper portion resting on the sleeve 49 of the' inner bearing unit 1, as in the other constructions. The body unit 52 is provided with inwardly-projecting ilanges 53 which overlap the ends 54, S5, of the housing sleeve 49, thereby preventing relative axial movement between the body unit 52 and the bearing unit 1. In this construction, re1- ative rotation between the units is prevented by providing on the underside of the upper part of the flanges 53 flat portions 56 which are closely opposed to similar flat surfaces 57 provided at the top of end closure ringsV 58, 59, having extension parts 58a, 59a, which are a press fit within rebated ends 6i), 61, of the sleeve 49.

In the constructions hereinbefore described, the end flanges for preventing axialV displacement of the units have both been carried on one of the units. If desired, however, the flange at one end may be carried on one of the units and the llange at the other end carried on the other unit.

It is to be understood that the outer unit may be of any desired non-circular arcuate or polygonal form interiorly so long as it co-operates with a suitably-shaped non-circular inner unit in order that relative rotation between the two units is prevented or restricted.

I claim: l

l'. A vehicle axle-'box for an axle having `an end s ur'- face and a shoulder spaced from said end surface, Vsaid axle-box comprising an inner bearing comprising two inner race rings upon said axle, a spacing ring surrounding said axle and located between the two inner race rings, two outer race rings enclosing said inner race rings, said outer and inner race rings having opposed v conical race surfaces, rollers between said opposed race surfaces and a housing, unit enclosing said'out'er race rings and having a central inwardly directed spa'cinglrib to form shoulders engaging said outer race rings, said housing unit having flat parallel outer top and bottom surfaces, and substantially elliptical outer side surfaces extending between said top and bottom surfaces, whereby said housing unit is of non-circular exterior shape which is symmetrical above and below a horizontal median plane; and an outer casing unit having a flat inner top surface resting upon the outer top surface of said housing unit, a llat inner bottom surface located at a distance froml the inner bottom surface of said housing unit, and curved inner side surfaces spaced from the outer side surfaces of said housing unit andv joiningfsaid inner top and bottom surfaces, a spring supporting up.- wardly projecting seat upon the top of said casing unit and vertical horn guides upon the sides of said casing unit, flanges located on the ends of one of said units and overlapping the ends of the other one Vof 4said, units, the depth of said llanges being less than said distance between said bottom inner and outer surfaces to permit of a relative vertical movement of said inner bearing and said outer casing unit sulllcient to cause said flanges to move clear of the housing unit, whereby the units can be lseparated by a, relative axial movement in either axial direction, and whereby said inner bearing, being of symmetrical form, can be reversed in position within said outer casing unit on reassembly of the units, a closure ring unit engaging said shoulder of the axle, said housing unit, and one of said inner race rings, a retaining plate connected to said end surface of the axle and overlapping the other one of said inner race rings, and an end cover plate enclosing said retaining plate and engaging an arinular rebate formed in said housing.

2. An axle-box in accordance with claim l, wherein said llanges are located at the ends of said casing4 unit and extent inwardly to overlap the ends of said housing unit. K

3, An axle-box in accordance with claim l, wherein said flanges are located at the ends of said housingfunit and extend outwardly to overlap the ends of said casing unit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Doen Oct. 23, 1928 Nystrom Feb. 5, 1929 6 Horger Aug. 8, 1933 Oelkers et a1. Sept. 15, 1936 Shafer Oct. 31, 1950 Horger Aug. 19, 1952 Olsen June 7, 1955 Palmgren Jan. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Belgium n July 14, 1951 

